Dayton promises veto of Appleton prison bill

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Well, that may be that.The Star Tribune’s J. Patrick Coolican reports: “Gov. Mark Dayton said Wednesday he would veto any measure this year that seeks to reopen the privately-owned prison in Appleton, Minn. … ‘It hasn’t been given any forethought,’ Dayton said at a news conference. … The DFL governor said the state faces a significant problem with prison overcrowding, but that leaders must first consider less costly options before taking over and rehabbing a vacant prison.”

The Minnesota Legislature, always laser-focused on the most important issues facing our state.The Pioneer Press’ David Montgomery writes: “Transgender people should be legally forced to use bathrooms associated with their biological sex, a group of Minnesota Republican lawmakers proposed Wednesday. … The bill declares that a ‘person’s right of privacy’ should trump any ‘claim of nontraditional (gender) identity’ when it comes to which restroom or locker room a person uses. It would apply to both schools and to private businesses, who would be legally barred from permitting access to restrooms and similar facilities ‘on any basis other than biological sex.’ ”

Also from the Legislature, signs of a possible breakthrough on unemployment benefits for miners.MPR’s Brian Bakst writes: “A Minnesota Senate vote set for Thursday on a bill reducing unemployment premium costs for state companies could break a logjam over a related measure to provide 26 more weeks of unemployment benefits for Iron Range mine workers facing long layoffs. … Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk on Wednesday pledged quick action on the standalone business relief measure as a way to detach it from the benefits extension.”

Stillwater City Council strikes a blow for FREEDOM.The Stillwater Current’s Shawn Hogendorf reports: “Stillwater will not regulate yard parking after all. … After nearly a year of discussions about a possible ban on yard parking in Stillwater residential neighborhoods, the City Council on a 3-2 vote — Tom Weidner and Mike Polehna dissenting — denied the first reading of the yard parking ordinance amendment, leaving the ordinance as it reads.”